California American Water has commenced its 2025–2026 Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) season on December 26, 2025, capturing over 240 acre-feet of Carmel River water—approximately 78 million gallons—for injection into the Seaside Groundwater Basin. This builds on the prior water year’s performance, during which the company stored 715 acre-feet (about 233 million gallons) underground. The ASR network comprises wells, pumps and booster stations along the river, plus conveyance infrastructure on General Jim Moore Boulevard. Director of Operations Spencer Vartanian highlighted that the sedimentary rock formation provides natural subsurface reservoirs, and that rigorous maintenance and testing of above-ground assets ensure maximum recharge during heavy rainfall events. As required by California regulators, only excess river flows are captured, but variability in winter precipitation underscores the program’s role alongside planned desalination and recycling projects to enhance regional water resilience.

Pennsylvania American Water is urging customers in 21 of the state’s counties to voluntarily cut nonessential water use by 10–15%, equating to roughly 11–16 gallons per household per day, following the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s expansion of its drought watch declaration to 40 counties. Although supply levels remain sufficient, the company is encouraging conservation to prepare for more severe conditions. Brandy Braun, director of water quality and environmental compliance, noted that this request reflects guidance tied to four hydrological indicators: precipitation, surface water flow, groundwater levels and soil moisture. The affected service areas include Adams, Berks, Butler, Lancaster, Monroe, Northampton and 15 others. Pennsylvania American Water is leveraging online calculators, free leak detection kits and customer outreach via email, bill inserts and social media to drive awareness of simple measures such as full-load dishwashers, water-efficient fixtures and rain barrel setup.

American Water, the parent company serving over 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations, continues to invest in both localized and systemwide enhancements. Its 6,700 employees bring expertise to projects ranging from the Seaside Basin ASR expansion and proposed desalination facilities in California to advanced metering and pipeline upgrades in Pennsylvania. These initiatives align with the company’s We Keep Life Flowing® commitment to deliver safe, reliable and affordable services. American Water’s scale allows it to optimize capital deployment, access low-cost financing and implement best practices from one region to another, strengthening resilience against climate variability and regulatory challenges.

In both California and Pennsylvania, American Water subsidiaries collaborate with state agencies, local governments and regional water managers. In California, coordination with Monterey Peninsula Water Management District and California Department of Water Resources ensures compliance with ASR permit conditions and aquifer protection standards. In Pennsylvania, American Water participates in the Commonwealth Drought Task Force and follows Department of Environmental Protection guidelines for drought classification. These partnerships facilitate data sharing, emergency response planning and community outreach, reinforcing the company’s proactive approach to evolving water supply risks and regulatory requirements.